The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to ground the entire fleet of IndiGo’s A320neo aircraft, which allegedly have faulty engines, PTI reported. The court was hearing a lawyer’s plea that the fleet should be grounded until the makers of the aircraft confirm that they have resolved the defects.
The bench will hear other requests in the plea on March 20. One of the requests is that the Delhi High Court should direct the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to publish details of all air accidents within 24 hours.
Budget carriers IndiGo and GoAir have cancelled more than 600 flights in coming days after the Directorate of Civil Aviation grounded A320neo planes that run on faulty Pratt & Whitney engines. They have 45 such planes, of which 14 – all but three of them of IndiGo – have been grounded.
The decision on March 13 came hours after an A320neo aircraft of IndiGo suffered an engine failure mid-air and was forced to make an emergency landing at the Ahmedabad airport.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has asked both the airlines not to refit these engines with spare parts in their inventory. The regulator has said it will make further decisions on the matter after consulting with the European Aviation Safety Agency and engine manufacturer.
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